StarMed Healthcare pulls 20-plus staff from front lines after positive COVID tests
Over 20 StarMed Healthcare staff members tested positive for COVID-19 and had to be “pulled from the front lines” on Wednesday, the Charlotte medical center tweeted.
The positive results come as COVID cases continue to rise rapidly across Mecklenburg County, and the Omicron variant of the virus spreads throughout the country.
More than 3,500 new COVID cases were reported in North Carolina on Tuesday, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
“We will reload and serve the community tomorrow to the very best of our ability,” StarMed’s tweet said. “Thank you for your continued patience and understanding of the situation we’ve all found ourselves in together.”
StarMed offers COVID testing to people of all ages at various sites. There is no cost to the individual, with or without insurance. Patients don’t need a referral and walk-ups are welcome.
The COVID spread happened pretty evenly across all testing sites, a StarMed spokesperson told the Observer.
“We didn’t have a mass outbreak at any one site, that’s for certain,” the spokesperson said. “Just the nature of what we’re doing, testing 1,000-plus per day. We’re gonna bounce back.”
StarMed expands sites
StarMed expanded its COVID-19 testing and vaccination services by opening a location in the Starmount neighborhood at 6859 South Blvd. near the intersection of Arrowood Road, the healthcare service said in a news release. The site began serving patients in mid-December.
The operating hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
This story was originally published December 30, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
